Bikes and Meters

July 20, 1957, Appleton Post-Crescent

Two extremes of modern transportation were featured this summer day in 1957.  Every kid's friend, the bicycle, had a chance to excel in the bike rodeo while harried motorists had to begin to use their pocket change to feed the hungry parking meters downtown.  But as with many innovations, the bike rodeo lasted for many years and then faded from prominence.  Back in the 50's and 60's there were bicycle inspections, license plates and registrations.  That too, faded away.  The parking meters were removed eventually, too.  But I must ask, when was the last time you heard a road referred to as an "arterial?"

Relatively Quiet

July 29, 1972, Appleton Post-Crescent

For so many years the boat races were a fixture on Lake Winnebago, creating a cacophony of engine noises, rising and falling with the pace of competition.  In my place of residence three blocks west on Second Street, this assault on the senses was an annual rite of summer, like the (more welcome) gate bells marking the opening and closing of the Racine Street Bridge, wafting though my window on a humid night. In the days in advance of Independence Day, let's pause to appreciate this recreational treasure that Menasha has enjoyed  for close to 90 years.

Illegal

July 2, 1968, Twin City News-Record

June 25, 1968, Twin City News-Record

June 28, 1968, Twin City News-Record

With the Fourth of July holiday rapidly approaching, we'll soon hear the retorts of fireworks.  While not living in the state anymore, I'm not sure about the fireworks laws currently.  But when I was a boy in the late '60's, my Air Force brother brought me several packages of forbidden firecrackers from out of state (I think he was stationed in South Dakota at the time).  I can't relate properly the heady feeling it gave me to have the verboten devices and what a big shot I felt like (or so I thought) because I was the cool "bad" boy.  Needless to say, local merchants capitalized on this ban and ensured we had access to all the approved "fun things."

Dandy

June 26, 1968, Twin City News-Record

Today in the blog, we step across Nicolet Boulevard to visit Robby's, free drink coupon in hand.  We first talked extensively about the hamburger chain in 2015:  http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2015/09/new-taste-delight.html.  Say what you will about those allegations, but for a time, it was quite the popular place.  

Fun Time

June 28, 1968, Twin City News-Record

All sorts of fun awaited the young people fortunate enough to participate in the parks programs offered by the city.  From sports to crafts to dance to trips, the rec department ensured the kids had a quality summer.  I know many of the blog's readers have their own fond memories of the park programs.

85 Years and Gone

January 30, 1983, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Yesterday, in wrapping up Father's Day, we featured an ad from Grove's Clothing store.  Today, we feature the closing of the store for good in 1983, after 85 years in business.  Not mentioned in the article is that the store was originally known as the Golden Rule Clothing House.  We first addressed Grove's in 2012; see the following link for an interesting photo of an advertisement for the store under this name: 

http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/06/golden-rule-clothing.html

...Sure to Delight Dad

June 15, 1960, Appleton Post-Crescent

One last item before we leave Fathers Day for all the Menasha dads.  Grove Clothing was a mainstay on Main Street for many years, occupying the east end of the street while The Clothes Shop held court on the west end of Main.  That Menasha, in its small size population-wise, could support two clothiers for so long is surely a testament to the business acumen of the retailers who ran the stores.  Full service, to include tailoring, went a long ways towards customer loyalty, a factor not evident so much anymore in our big box discount store mentality nowadays.  More about Grove's tomorrow.

First Jail Razed

June 18, 1943, Appleton Post-Crescent

June 15, 1943, Appleton Post-Crescent

I wish the photograph in the top article was clearer, but at least I found a story that explains the building.  Formerly the Exley Meat Market, the old city jail would have been approximately where Club Liquors is now.    

Pleasants Park

December 4, 1962, Twin City News-Record

As a carryover from yesterday's post about naming parks, seven months later, the Seventh Street Playground was renamed as Pleasants Playground, now known as Pleasants Park.  The Pleasants family, as indicated within the article, was instrumental in the Menasha firmament of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Park Names

May 8, 1962, Twin City News-Record

Too often we take things for granted, either never giving something a single thought or thinking it had always been that way.  So it goes with names of streets, parks, etc.  I am as guilty of this as much as anyone.  I grew up in a house at Second and DePere and I never wondered why the names of Wisconsin cities were chosen to name streets (Milwaukee, Racine, Appleton, DePere, Manitowoc, Green Bay),when there were important city founders and fathers who were completely ignored.  Now, granted, many of these people were alive when the city names were used, and there's always the problem of costs and confusion with later renaming efforts.  But still... 

Quick Draw

June 30, 1960, Appleton Post-Crescent

Back in the late '50's and early '60's, westerns on television were all the rage.  Can you remember these titles- Maverick, Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, Have Gun, Will Travel, Rawhide, Wagon Train, and Wanted Dead or Alive? Many others I can't recall right now filled the three channels most of us got.  And this doesn't even include the repackaged western serials from the 30's and '40's which resurrected the careers of some forgotten heroes like Hopalong Cassidy, for example.  I cannot figure out which famous cowpokes the winners above are emulating, but I know they just had to be absolutely into it.  And kudos to the Parks Department for such creative programming which entertained a generation of kids.

Put Your Big Wheel on Little Wheels

June 12, 1946, Menasha Record

More Dad's Day ideas, tailored for a Menasha audience.  For Father's Day, take Dad on a trip via Greyhound or the Northwestern line.  But if you can't afford that, put him on roller skates at Waverly Beach.  Or there's always the exotic toiletries of Seaforth, advertised in the 40's and 50's extensively as those favored by the adventuring sort of man.

"The" Place to Go

June 12, 1946, Menasha Record

Not being sure if this is a news story or a letter to the editor from some gardener or an editorial, for that matter, but it sure takes a meandering journey to the conclusion that the library has a lot of information.  If the keepers of this local journal were trying to fill column space, they surely succeeded, but the message is true nonetheless.  The library has answers to many basic questions and advice aplenty.  The writer even throws in a reference that things are different this year and give thanks to the bounty we have to share with others.  Coming less than a year after the war ended, we can indulge in some whimsy.  The coming warm weather and the sight of flowers after a long winter are enough to give someone a heady feel.  And if this is the worse they can conjure up, Menasha's botanical interests are attended well indeed.  

Gifts for a Glad Dad!

June 12, 1946, Appleton Post-Crescent

Father's Day is right around the corner so I found these neat ads from 1946.  I presume the list of songs in the music store ad is some sort of Top 10 (actually 11) which is kind of neat in itself.  The furniture items in the Menasha Furniture ad, to me, spell out the unspoken message that Dad is a grounded, sincere, tough, and genuine kind of individual...a man's man.  And despite the almost comical illustration of the stereotypical Dad, why wouldn't we want that for him, less than a year after he came home from the war?    

Keglers Attack Menasha

August 23, 1964, Green Bay Press-Gazette

Hey, do you remember that time a bunch of bowling alley rowdies descended on Menasha and created a fracas?  Of course not...that's what you have me here for...to introduce these weird stories!  The article above shows just how hard people will play out their emotions to gain something for their favorite sport, despite its tarnished reputation at the time.  I guess in 1919, people still thought bowling alleys were something akin to being an atmosphere of ill repute.  (It didn't seem to bother Menasha.)  Still, it makes for interesting reading about a time when there weren't so many recreational diversions. 

Riding the Rails

July 10, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Okay, so this guy was taking a ride through the railroad jungles of Neenah.  But hey, in Menasha there were just as many train switchings and boxcar uncouplings to make this guy representative of all I wanted to do as a little boy.  If my Mom knew how much time I spent watching the activity between Third and Fourth Streets, she would have banned me forever from ever taking another look at a train car.  Yes, in today's environment, I'd never have had that much freedom.  But that's a debate for another day.  In the meantime, I'll just sit quietly and try to conjure up that clickety-clack sound punctuated by an occasional horn from the lead engine.  

45 Years Ago Today

June 9, 1975, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This was the scene forty-five years ago today, when I and 100 of my classmates graduated from St. Mary's.  The anniversary of this event is more poignant this year in that the 45th reunion we were planning for August has been cancelled, in deference to the COVID-19 threat.  I suppose we could have a socially distanced reunion, using a program like Zoom or Skype but it wouldn't be the same.  Instead, we'll plan for next year, so we really can let loose (as if we needed an excuse!)  

Riot Control

December 1, 1969, Twin City News-Record

This editorial was written to address preparation in light of the social unrest of the 1960's- Vietnam, civil rights and the like that became watchwords to define that decade.  

We first broached this subject in 2018:  http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2018/05/potential-for-troublemakers.html. And while, at that time, I had the '60's in mind, who would have thought, in 2020, that our country would be on fire and unruliness would be so widespread?  In light of recent developments, such precautions could be deemed eerily prescient.

Acrimony

June 14, 1968, Oshkosh Northwestern

Another in a series of stories from the Northwestern's 100th anniversary.  Although the headline seems like one thing, the article quickly descends into a litany of antagonistic activities and hate between the residents of the Twin Cities over the years.  Spirited athletic rivalries are one thing, but fistfights between street sweepers on Nicolet Boulevard?  Wow!  

Stroebe Island

June 14, 1968, Oshkosh Northwestern

I found this great description of old time life on Stroebe Island in an edition of the Northwestern newspaper, celebrating its first 100 years of existence.  As was the practice of the day, big events such as anniversaries necessitated a special edition with many stories about surrounding communities.  We saw this during the 1948 celebration of Wisconsin's statehood and again in 1953 during Menasha's centennial.  We first encountered Stroebe Island on the blog in 2014:  http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2014/09/stroebe-island.html.

Regatta

June 24, 1964, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Over the years, we've featured a lot of boats, from pleasure craft to rowboats to major steamboats from the 19th century.  But in my mind's eye, nothing says summer to me more than these visitors.  Living a mere three blocks from Jefferson Park, my summer months were punctuated with the roars of the engines as these racers traversed the lake, entertaining the thousands of folks who'd congregate at the park and elsewhere.  Aside from riding my stingray bike in the summer sunshine, this scene just does it for me.

Awards for Thespians

May 29, 1945, Appleton Post-Crescent

Not to be undone by Broadway's Tony Awards and the motion picture industry's Oscars, ambitious Menasha High School drama students came up with their own awards to recognize hard working actors and actresses and stage hands.  These three can only dream of their future days treading the boards.